Major urological oncological surgeries can be performed using minimally invasive robotic or laparoscopic methods with similar early perioperative outcomes compared to conventional open methods.

Robotic and laparoscopic surgical methods (RLM) are increasingly being used for urological oncological procedures. We compared the outcomes in a cohort of patients undergoing procedures by either RLM or open methods (OM) at a single institution. The data on 279 consecutive patients undergoing major urological oncological procedures from September 2000 to June 2005 was entered into a Microsoft Access database and queried.

Comparative analysis of early perioperative outcomes following radical cystectomy by either the robotic or open method.

Objective: We analyzed early perioperative outcomes following radical cystectomy by the robotic method compared with the conventional open method.

Methods: All relevant clinical information was entered in a Microsoft Access Database and queried. P < 0.

Metallothioneins and resistance to cisplatin and radiation in prostate cancer.

Objectives: The metallothioneins (MTs) are a family of small molecular weight trace metal and free radical scavenging proteins well established to play a role in the resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy in human cancers. MT gene expression is upregulated in response to the presence of metal ions such as zinc. Because prostatic tissue has the greatest concentration of zinc in the human body, in this study we analyzed the effect of MT induction by zinc in prostate cancer (PCa).

Robotic urological surgery in patients with prior abdominal operations is not associated with increased complications.

Background: The da Vinci Surgical Robotic System is being increasingly used to perform complex urological operations by minimally invasive techniques. Prior abdominal surgery associated with intra-abdominal adhesions may complicate robotic surgery.

Methods: We used a cohort of consecutive 49 patients undergoing a variety of robotic urological procedures at our institution to study the impact of prior abdominal operations on early perioperative complications.

Radical nephrectomy performed by open, laparoscopy with or without hand-assistance or robotic methods by the same surgeon produces comparable perioperative results.

Purpose: Radical nephrectomy can be performed using open or laparoscopic (with or without hand assistance) methods, and most recently using the da Vinci Surgical Robotic System. We evaluated the perioperative outcomes using a contemporary cohort of patients undergoing radical nephrectomy by one of the above 4 methods performed by the same surgeon.

Materials And Methods: The relevant clinical information on 57 consecutive patients undergoing radical nephrectomy from September 2000 until July 2004 by a single surgeon was entered in a Microsoft Access Database and queried.

Aberrant expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin in human prostate cancer.

Cadherin-catenin complexes play a key role in embryonic development, and are associated with carcinogenesis and metastasis. We studied the expression of the major members of the family, including E-cadherin and beta-catenin in prostate cancer (PC), and correlated with Gleason grade and pathologic stage. Immunohistochemistry was performed on serial sections of paraffinized radical prostatectomy specimens to evaluate E-cadherin (n = 16) and beta-catenin (n = 17) expression using heat induced epitope retrieval.

N-cadherin switching occurs in high Gleason grade prostate cancer.

Background: The inappropriate expression of non-epithelial N-(neural) cadherin by epithelial cells, called cadherin switching, has been suggested to play a role in prostate cancer (PC) progression. We explored the role of N-cadherin as a biomarker in PC by correlating the expression with clinical parameters.

Methods: Two pathologists blinded to patients' history independently reviewed and scored the intensity and extent of staining of N-cadherin expression in 44 randomly selected radical prostatectomy specimens.